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Ngorongoro – Should I Stay on the Crater Rim or in Karatu?
Magnificently panoramic and packed with wildlife, the Ngorongoro Crater is one of Tanzania’s most iconic safari destinations and perhaps the easiest place in Africa to see the Big Five – lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo.
But you need to make a decision about where to stay. Ngorongoro accommodation is neatly divided into two groups: the camps and lodges located on – or very near – the Crater Rim, and the accommodation found in the town of Karatu, lying some 50 kilometres (30 miles) away. The question is: do you stay on the Ngorongoro Crater Rim or Karatu? There are advantages and disadvantages to each and – although budget is obviously a consideration – your choice ultimately rests on the sort of experience you would like.
Need help deciding? Ngorongoro Crater Rim or Karatu?
Ngorongoro Accommodation on the Crater Rim
Stay at a camp or lodge on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater and you can sit down to some of the most incredible views of your life. The crater is the largest intact volcanic caldera in the world and accommodations on the rim take full advantage of their location to offer blockbuster views and epic sunsets. And since you are located on the edge of the crater, your safari vehicle will be among the first on the crater floor, giving you an extra advantage over later arrivals: better light for photography and far fewer other vehicles.
Pay extra for the location
The main downside to staying on the crater rim is that you’re going to pay extra for the location – accommodation on the rim is not especially budget-friendly. There are, however, good-value lodges on the crater rim if you don’t mind a more rustic experience – you will have plenty of comfort and enjoy a great atmosphere but without the more luxurious amenities such as air conditioning. Be aware too that the tented camps on the crater rim are often cold and windy – especially at night – though you will be provided with thick Maasai blankets and hot-water bottles.
Adds continuity to your safari
Staying on the crater rim adds continuity to your safari: you can choose between larger safari lodges and smaller, more exclusive tented camps – just like in the Serengeti. There is often wildlife – zebra, wildebeest and warthog – strolling though the camp grounds and you also have the opportunity to go on guided walks along the crater rim and visit local Maasai communities.
Bottom line? You choose – and pay for – accommodation on the crater rim for the stunning views and the wilderness experience plus quicker access onto the crater floor – Ngorongoro can get pretty busy in high season.
Recommend Ngorongoro Crater Rim Accommodation
Lemala Tented Camp – elegant & just 10 minutes drive to the crater floor
Entamanu Ngorongoro – small, stylish tented camp with panoramic views
Ang’Ata Ngorongoro Camp – intimate tented camp with only eight suites
&Beyond Crater Lodge – top of the range, grand elegance & luxurious
Ngorongoro Crater Camp – lovely tented camp with expert guides
Serena Safari Lodge – large, hotel-size lodge with amazing crater views
Rhino Lodge – great value rustic camp with a fireplace in each room
Compare Ngorongoro camps & lodges on the Crater Rim to accommodation in the nearby town of Karatu. Need help deciding?
Ngorongoro Accommodation in Karatu
You still have great views from your accommodation in Karatu but instead of the crater it might be a flower-filled garden or the rolling green hills of a coffee plantation. A prosperous agricultural town, Karatu makes a very tempting alternative to accommodation on the crater rim.
There are beautifully restored farmhouses, elegant lodges and grand manor houses to choose from both in and around town and your personal accommodation takes the form of a cottage, chalet or handsome suite.
More diverse Tanzania experience
Being 50 kilometres (30 miles) away from the actual Ngorongoro Crater is the only real downside to Karatu accommodation. And if it’s a more diverse experience you want, then Karatu is the answer.
There are lodges that offer horse-back safaris, coffee tours and spa massages, others that are perfect for honeymooners and then others that welcome families with children; kids can bake bread, milk cows, go on nature walks and feed bush-babies at night.
You won’t miss out on Crater
Karatu accommodation is more budget-friendly than accommodation on the rim and you won’t miss out on the safari experience either. While it’s true you won’t be the first onto the crater in the morning (the crater is over an hour’s drive from Karatu) you will still have plenty of time to spot the Big Five on the crater floor and have a picnic lunch, meet the Maasai and go for walks on the crater rim.
Our conclusion? Compared to lodges on the crater rim, Karatu has accommodation that is easier on the pocket, offers more activities and is really good for families with children – and you won’t miss out on the wildlife either.
Recommend Ngorongoro Karatu Accommodation
Plantation Lodge – good value, owner-run & immaculate
Gibb’s Farm – exquisite, unique lodge on coffee farm with incredible views
Ngorongoro Farm House – a larger lodge on a 500 acre coffee farm
The Manor Ngorongoro – top of the range, grand elegance on an estate
Country Lodge Karatu – a smaller, good value lodge with chalets
Bougainvillea Safari Lodge – good value cottages just outside town
Compare Ngorongoro camps & lodges on the Crater Rim to accommodation in the nearby town of Karatu. Need help deciding?
Selected Tours
Browse our recommended tours below, each featuring the Ngorongoro Crater. If you’d like us to tailor-make an itinerary based on your needs and budget, then simply contact us and we’ll be happy to help. Or take a look at all Tanzania Safaris.
Ngorongoro is home to a large assortment of animals and an amazing population of predators
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